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A Switch of Perception through a Distorted Form of Characters, and a Possible Extension of the Meaning of a Metamorphosis

  • The Research of the Korean Classic
  • 2006, 0(13), pp.131-164
  • Publisher : The Research Of The Korean Classic
  • Research Area : Humanities > Korean Language and Literature > Korean Literature > Korean classic prose

Nayeong Kim 1

1경기대학교

Candidate

ABSTRACT

This article begins at the interest in characters of narrative classic literature. It is assured that especially, characters with an abnormal and insensible form of the body are focused to identify a process of their being accepted and admitted themselves and socially, and to find the meaning of the process. In narrative classic literature, 'a metamorphosis motif' is invoked as a way of escaping characters' disadvantageous origin due to their distorted and twisted form. A Metamorphosis with a mysterious and fantastic method allows the person to experience a change in his/her being at once and to make the person cope with the world positively. However, on the assumption that this article is premised on denoting the meaning beyond a simple 'body transformation,' the researcher focuses that a metamorphosis has greater possibility of being extended. In particular, the shift of perception serves to play an important part, both for the character who undergoes a transformation in the text and the reader who receives the text. That is, if readers are provided a chance to change their life through a shift of perception, although surreal events do not serve as a medium, it can be defined another form of a metamorphosis and the meaning. From this point of view, this article defines the meaning of a metamorphosis as conscious and unconscious acts on 'relating myself with objects' influencing across the live and being of humans. Especially, when a character's form of 'the body' appears to be unexpected distorted shape, relating 'myself' and 'objects' can be occurred by the metamorphosis of 'a shift of perception.' Likewise, if the meaning of a metamorphosis is extended, 'a metamorphosis' the fundamental desire of humans, can be implemented, whatever ways, in literature. This article gauges the possibility with a tale of Oejjogi.

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